The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1887-03-17

4 St"sSA' nv SA"'O'lW"S i'h VI "uisp
and negro soldiers. The Coufeder-
ates, surrounding il on every side,
poured volley after volley into this
besped up mass Of terrified negroes
aud their brave officers. The negroes
ran 10 every direction and wore shot
down without thought. Bayonets.
swords and tho butts Of muskets
were used. The deafeuing roar Of
artillery aud uusketry. the yells aud
imprecations OF the combatants
drowned the Commands Of officers.
a negro 10 the crater attempted
to raise white flag, and it was
Instantly pulled down by Federal
officer. Tue federal colors we're
planted ON huge lump Of dirt, and
waved until Sergeant Wallace, of the
1lth Alabama; followed by others,
seized them aud tore them from the
staff. Instantly q white flag WAS
raised, and the living, who were no,
many, surrendered. The crater was
won. "The ground all around" says
Pollard, "was dotted with tho fallen,
while the sides aud bottom Of the
crater was literally lined with dead,
the bodies lying in every conceiva>
bls position. Some had evidently
been killed with the butts Of musks
as their crushed skulls and and bad
ly smashed faces too plainly indicat.
ed.
Within this cra,er-this hole 40x
so feet-were lying 1876 dead sol
diere, besides the wounded. The
GROUND WAS literally saturated with
blood. Gen. Bartlett was here, with
his steel leg brokon. He did not
look as though be had been at
golden wedding but was present
at dance of death" A covered
way for artillery was so full Of dead
that details had to throw them out,
that artillery might be brought in.
The dead bodies formed heap on
each side. The Alaba mians captur.
cd "a officers, 536 white and 130 COL
ored soldiers. The three biigades
had II stands of colors, held by II
Ms brave, sweaty, diriy, powder
stain I'd fellows as ever wore the gray
who knew that, when presenting
their colors at division headquarters,
to each q furlough would be given
The crater was filed with wounded,
to whom our men gave water. Adjt
Morgan Cleveland, of the Sth Ala
regiment, assisted federal captain
who wa 8 mortally wounded aud suf
fering intensely Near him lay IL
a burly wounded negro. The negro
raising himself on his elbow, cried
out: "Thand God You killed my
brother when we charged, because
he was afraid and ran. Now the
rebels have killed you" Death soon
ended the sufferings Of one and he
hatred Of the other. Darkness came
down upon the battlefield and the
victors began to salient. The crater
was cleared of dead and wounded.
Men were found buried ten feet uu-
der the dirt. Twenty-Five OF the
artillery company were missing, and
49S dead aud wounded Confederates
were buried and sent to tho hospit-
al. Between the lines lay hundreds
OF wounded federal soldiers, who
vainly called for water. These men
had been without water since early
morning. Some calling louder than
others, their voices were recognized,
and as their cries grew fainter, we
knew their lives were ebbing away
Our men, risking their lives. carri ed
water to some. I fnd in my d iary
these lines: Sunday, July 81, 1864,
Everything comparatively quiet along
the lines. Hundred of federal SOL
diers are lying in front OF the crater
exposed to the scorching sun; some
crying for water. The enemy's fire
is too heavy for q soldier to expose
himself
Late on Sunday evening flag q
truce was sent in aud forwarded to
Gen. Lee. Gen. Grant had asked
pei mission to bury his dead aud
remove his wounded. The truce
was granted, to begin on Monday at
s, o. m., and conclude at 8 q. M.
Punctual TO the hour, the federal
details came on the field aud by 8 O.
IN had buried about 300. The work
was hardly begun, and the truce was
extended. Hour after hour was OK.
tended until it was evening before
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